Sign.



J. K. BURLBIGH. v

SIGN.

APPLICATION rum) NOV. 18. 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

JAMES K. BURLEIGH, OF

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIG'NOR TO AMERICAN SIGN COMPANY, OF KALAMAZOO.MICHIGAN.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Application filed November 18. 1912. Serial No. 732,117.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES K. BURLEIGH, acitizen of the United States, residing at 508 Clinton avenue, Kalamazoo,Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signs.

The main objects of this invention are to provide in a sign in which thesign indicia or characters or ornamental features are formed of lensesan improved means for securing the lenses in which the parts areeconomical to produce, quickly and easily assembled and when assembledare very secure and not likely to rattle or become loose.

A further object is to provide a structure having these advantages inwhich the lenses may when desired, be easily and quickly removed.

Furt-her objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a. detail front view of asign structure embodying thefeatures of my invention, a single letter only bein 1llustrated, theparts being shown malnly in conventional form. Fig. II is a detailsection taken on a line corresponding to line 2-2 ofFig. I through theface plate and lens retaining member, the lens being s own in fulllines. Fig. III is a detail inside View of the face plate and one of thelenses. Fig.v IV is a detail section on a line corresponding to.1ine Hof Fig. III. Fig. V is a detail perspective view showing one of thelenses partially inserted to illustrate the manner of assembling.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a sheet metal face plate of a sign orother structure.

The face plate 1 is in practice when embodied in a sign structure, thewall of a casing in which the illuminating lamps are inclosed. Asthestructural details of the casing form no part of my present invention, Ido not illustrate or describe the same herein. A satisfactory casingstructure is shown in the patent to Bambeck #1,030,449, June 25, 1912,and I preferably embody my improvementsin a sign of the characterthereindicated.

The lenses 9. are arranged to form the sign indicia or characters or toproduce any suitable design or outline. The lenses are preferably convexand provided with shanks 3, there being flat faced shoulders 4 betweenthe heads or bodies of the lenses 7 and the shanks adapted to contactwith the side of the face plate. The shanks 3 are provided with annulargrooves 5 and cylindrical neck portions 6 between the grooves and theshoulders adapted to fit the openings 7 in the face plate. The width ofthis neck portion 6 is preferably the thickness of the face plate.preferably circular. The shanks 3 are beveled from the grooves as at 8so that they may be more readily slipped through the openings 7. Springretaining members are provided for securing the lenses in place. Thesespring retaining members are U- shaped in general form and are providedwith offset portions 10 at the loop, and offset portions 11 in each armadapted to engage the rear side of the face plate. The ends 9 of thearms of the retaining members are engaged in the grooves and also theportions 12 thereof between the offset or plate engaging portions 10 and11. In assembling, these retaining members are engaged in the groovesprior to introducing the shanks into the openings 7 The loop end offset10 is passed throu h an opening as shown by dotted lines in jg. V, andan inward pressure exerted on the lens. This compresses the retainingmember permitting the shank to pass through the opening when theretaining member snaps or springs out to engaging position asshown inFig. III. The lens shoulders are clamped'against the face plate by thespring tension of the retaining members forming a very close joint andpreventing any rattling of the lenses. The neck portlons 4 fit theopenings in the face plate closely to further add to the tightness ofthe joint. The lenses may be easily removed by pressing on the shank atthe edge in which the ends of the arms of the retaining member areengaged. Owing to the shape of the spring, it is collapsed by thispressure so as to free the lens. This permits changing of the lenses asdesired, as for instance, the changing of the color. The shanks may bemade very short so that the lens transmits the light effectively. Theshanks of the lenses maybe concaved if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new" and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A structure of the class described comprising aface plate containingan opening; a lens provided with a shoulder arranged to contact with theside of the plate and with a shank having an annular groove therein anda neck portion between said groove and shoulder fitting the face plateopening, the width of the neck being substantially the thickness of theface plate. the end of the shank being beveled from the groove; and aUshaped spring retaining member arranged in said groove and havingoffsets in its loop end and arms adapted to engage the rear side of theface plate, the ends of the arms and portions thereof between the plateengaging otfsets being engagedin the groove.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a face plate containingan opening;

a lens provided with a shoulder arranged to contact with the side of theplate and with a shank having an annular groove therein; and a U-shapedspring retaining member arranged in said groove and having offsets inits loop end and arms adapted to engage the rear side of the face plate,the ends of the arms and portions thereof between the plate engagingoffsets being engaged in the groove.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a face plate containinga substantially circular opening; a lens provided with a shoulderarranged to contact with the side of the plate and with a shank havingan annular groove therein and a neck portion between said groove andshoulder fitting the face plate opening, the width of the neck beingsubstantially the thickness of the face plate, the end of the shankbeing beveled from the groove; and a U-shaped spring retaining memberarranged in said groove and having portions projecting therefrom to en--gage the rear side of the face plate, said member being adapted tocollapse to permit its insertion with the shank through said face plateopening.

I. In a structure of the class described,'a face plate comprising asubstantially circular opening, a lens provided with a shoulder arrangedto contact with the side of the plate and with a shank having a groovetherein, and a spring retaining member collapsibly engaged in saidgroove having portions normally projecting therefrom to engage the rearside ofthefaceplate when the shoulder of the lens is seated against theface plate, whereby said member collapses when the shank is introducedinto the face plate opening and returns to engaging position when theshoulder of the lens is seated against the face plate.

5. 'A structure of the class described comprising a face platecontaining an opening; a lens provided with a shoulder arranged tocontact with the side of the plate and with a shank arranged in saidopening and having a groove therein; and a U-shaped spring retainingmember having offsets in its loop end and arms adapted to engage therear side of the face plate, the ends of the farms and portions thereofbetween said offsets being engaged in the groove.

In wltness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

M. PHINA WOODRUFF, MARY LEVISON.

